According to Mayo Clinic, the male-related disease called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with the acronym of BPH is an age-associated prostate gland enlargement that can cause urination difficulty. It has been reported to affect more than 1.5 million cases per year in Nigeria.
Roughly 50 percent of men over the age of 50 have an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Trusted Source. By the age of 80, nearly 90 percent of men will live with BPH.
This type of prostate enlargement is not considered a precursor to prostate cancer. With this condition, the urinary stream may be weak or stop and start. In some cases, it can lead to infection, bladder stones and reduced kidney function.
When it comes to prostate problems, men experience various conditions of an unhealthy prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer, and it ranks fifth as a cause of mortality among men globally and is the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. The third prostate problem that men experience is Prostatitis which occurs when the prostate is infected.
Treatments include medication that relaxes the bladder or shrinks the prostate, surgery and minimally invasive surgery. It is treatable by a medical professional but requires a medical diagnosis, lab tests or imaging often required.
If it degenerates to the chronic stage it can last for years or be life long.
How Do you know you have an unhealthy prostate?
The dangerous signs and symptoms of an unhealthy prostate do not all come in one day, in fact the early signs of an enlarged prostate are so subtle that a man may not notice them until his condition is worse.
This is why it is important that the symptoms of an enlarged prostate is taking seriously a treatment commences as soon as possible to avoid complications. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. High levels of PSA may indicate the presence of prostate cancer, an enlarged or inflamed prostate.
Another test that can be done to detect prostate enlargement is the Direct Rectal Exam (DRE).
Here Are 9 Warning signs you better not ignore. 1. Urinating frequently, 2 to 6 times in one night. 2. A feeling that your bladder is never completely empty. 3. A constant feeling of wanting to urinate but you. can not. 4. Embarrassing dripping or leakage of urine. 5. The need to strain when urinating. 6. A weak urinary stream. 7. A sudden urge to urinate. 8. Painful urination. 9. Weak urge and bedroom performance,
Having a swollen prostate is not only painful, it can be embarrassing as well. To make matters worse, the condition can lead to life-threatening complications. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t wait until it worsens.
The piece of good news is that dietary intervention goes a long way towards the treatment of BPH.
Prevention Diet: Foods for an Enlarged Prostate:
These include sesame seeds, salmon, bell peppers, tomatoes, avocados, vegetables and tofu.
Playing diet defense
The good news is that a diet rich in certain vitamins and minerals can keep your prostate healthy and lower your risk for BPH. Being overweight is another risk factor for developing the condition. So making nutritious food choices is also a great way to lower both your weight and your risk.
Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are rich in zinc. The mineral is essential to the health of the prostate, according to a study in the Indian Journal of UrologyTrusted Source. Men with either BPH or prostate cancer have lower levels of zinc in their bodies, sometimes up to 75 percent lower than those with healthy prostates.
Zinc that comes from food is easier to absorb than zinc supplements. Help your body by snacking on sesame seeds. Almonds, adzuki beans, and pumpkin seeds are also high in zinc.
A study on rats shows that pumpkin seeds may also be beneficial for managing BPH.
Salmon
Obesity may increase your risk for an enlarged prostate, according to the Mayo Clinic.
One review suggests Trusted Source increasing omega-3s along with exercise to decrease obesity and weight gain.
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats can protect you from: cardiovascular disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, weight gain
If you’re not a fan of fish, you can get your omega-3s from walnuts, ground flax seeds, chia seeds, and canola oil. Smaller amounts are found in kidney beans and soybeans.
Bell peppers
According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin C found in vegetables may play a role in fighting BPH. Bell peppers contain a lot of vitamin C: One cup of raw bell peppers contains nearly 200 percent of your daily required intake of vitamin C.
Other vegetables rich in vitamin C that you may want to add to your diet include: Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts.
Read also: Why Nigeria must make its food systems sustainable, resilient
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, the bright carotenoid, which gives the plant its red color. Lycopene may lower the risk of developing prostate cancer. It can also help men with BPH, according to the National Cancer Institute Trusted Source.
One study-trusted Source saw lycopene slow the progression of BPH in participants. Lycopene also helps lower the prostate specific antigen (PSA) connected to prostate inflammation, BPH, and prostate cancer. Just make sure to include your lycopene rich food with a fat like avocado, nuts, oil or butter to enhance absorption.
You can get lycopene in: Tomatoes, watermelon, apricots, pink grapefruit, papaya.
Avocados
Avocados are rich in beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol thought to reduce symptoms associated with BPH. Some men taking beta-sitosterol supplements say they have better urinary flow and less residual urine volume. However, the Mayo Clinic warns that the safety and effectiveness of beta-sitosterol supplements have not been proved.
Besides avocados, other foods rich in beta-sitosterol include: Pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, soybeans, pecans
Vegetables
Eating more vegetables can help lower your risk of BPH. Green leafy vegetables are especially important because they are rich in antioxidants. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli also reduce the risk of prostate problems, including BPH and prostate cancer.
People who eat onion and garlic regularly may also benefit from a lower risk of BPH. Onions and garlic are often used in natural medicine to fight infection and help strengthen your immune system.
Tofu
One older study Trusted Source saw that soybean isoflavones reduce BPH growth. But a more recent oneTrusted Source suggests that soy only decreases cancerous cell growth in prostates.
Another studyTrusted Source found that soy isoflavones help with symptoms and signs of lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH.
For other sources of soybean isoflavones, try these whole soy foods:
Soymilk, tempeh, edamame or cooked soybeans, roasted soybeans, soy yogurt
Additional information from Mayo Clinic, Trusted Source and Medically Reviewed publications.
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